Reinforcement Sensitivity and Responsiveness to Performance Feedback: A Preliminary Investigation

Lovett, Benjamin J.; Eckert, Tanya L.

Journal of Applied School Psychology, v25 n2 p204-219 2009

Variability in responsiveness to academic interventions is a common phenomenon in school psychology practice, but the variables associated with this responsiveness are not well understood. Reinforcement sensitivity, a generalized tendency to learn quickly in reward contingency situations, is one variable for increased understanding. In the present study, teachers completed a rating scale measuring their students' sensitivity to reinforcement. The students then participated in a classwide performance feedback intervention in the domain of mathematics. The rating scale was found to be reliable and predicted students' responsiveness to the intervention. Implications for future research on reinforcement sensitivity and responsiveness to intervention assessment strategies are discussed. (Contains 2 tables and 1 note.)